Device for limiting the axial play of a rotatable element of a movement of timepiece or of a small mechanical apparatus

ABSTRACT

Means for limiting relative axial play of a rotatable element and a stationary frame, one of which carries a shaft rigidly mounted thereto, a pair of axially spaced annular bearing members mounted in the other of said element and frame and capable of having the shaft journalled therethrough. A ring is forced on the shaft and interposed between said bearing members, the difference between the axial distance separating the bearing members and the thickness of the ring determining the maximum axial play, the shaft capable of being withdrawn from the bearing members, leaving the ring therebetween so that on re-assembly, the same axial play limitation is maintained.

UnitedStates tent [191 Berthoud Q 1 DEVICE FOR LIMITING THE AXIAL PLAY OF A ROTATABLE ELEMENT OF A MOVEMENT OF TIMEPTEQE OH OF A SMALL MECHANICAL APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Francois Bertlnoutl, Le Lieu,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Ebauches S.A., Canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland 22 Filed: Apr. 24, 1973 211 App]. No.: 354,074

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr, 26, 1972 Switzerland 6243/72 [52] US. Cl 403/165, 29/525, 29/178, 308/158, 58/140 R, 403/263 [51] Int. Cl. F1611 1/06 [58] Field of Search 403/164, 165, 360; 58/139, 58/140 R, 140 A; 308/135, 159, 163,18,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,626,443 1 2/1971 Schneider 53/140 R Nov. 19, 1974 Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Assistant Examiner--Conrad L. Berman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Silverman & Cass, Ltd.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT Means for limiting relative axial play of a rotatable e1- ement and a stationary frame, one of which carries a shaft rigidly mounted thereto, a pair of axially spaced annular bearing members mounted in the other of said element and frame andvcapable of having the shaft journalled therethrough. A ring is forced on the shaft and interposed between said bearing members, the difference between the axial distance separating the bearing members and the thickness of the ring determining the maximum axial play, the shaft capable of being withdrawn from the bearing members, leaving the ring therebetween so that on re-assembly, the.

same axial play limitation is maintained.

12 Claims, 2 Drawing igures PATENTE WV 1 9 I974 FIG.

DEVICE FOR LIMITING TIIE AXIAL PLAY 01* A RQTATABLE ELEMENT 01* A MOVEMENT OF TIMEPIECE R OF A SMALL MECHANICAL APPARATUS The present invention provides a device for limiting the axial play of a rotatable element of a movement of timepiece or of a small mechanical apparatus, in which one of the two elements rotatable element and frame of the movement or of the apparatus is rigid with a shaft. This device is characterized by the fact that it comprises a ring forced on the said shaft and which is interposed between two annular abuting members coaxial to the said shaft and which are carried by the other element frame and rotatable element. The drawing shows, by way of example, two embodiments of the object of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are axial sectional views of two embodiments of devices limiting the axial play of wheels of movements of timepieces.

The wheel represented in FIG. 1 is designated by 1.

It carries, forced into a central boring 2, two pierced jewels 3, rotatably mounted on a stationary journal 4 forced into a bridge 5 of the frame of the movement. So that the wheel 1 be maintained axially on the journal 4, this latter carries, forced thereon, a ring 6 interposed between the two pierced jewels 3, the axial play being determined by the difference between the distance separating the two pierced jewels and the thickness of the ring 6. 7

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a wheel 7 is rigid with a shaft 8 rotatably mounted between a pierced jewel 9 carried by a bridge 11 of the frame of the movement and the extremity 12a, constituting a bushing, of a sleeve 12 carried by a bridge 13 of this frame. The bridge 11 carries, forced into the boring in which is mounted the jewel 9, a ring 14 freely traversed by the shaft 8. This latter carries, forced thereon, a split ring 15, split at 16, interposed between the pierced jewel 9 and the ring 14, that ensures the axial holding of the shaft 8.

As it can be seen from to the two embodiments as disclosed and represented, the present device has the advantage, between others, to be easily dismountable and to permit that the same axial play as before be found again after the remounting.

What I claim is:

1. In a movement of a timepiece or like small mechanical apparatus, in which there is a rotatable element and a frame stationary relative thereto one of said element and frame having a shaft rigidly secured thereto, the invention comprising means limiting the axial play of the rotatable element relative to the frame comprising a ring tightly engaged on the said shaft, at least a pair of annular bearing members seated spaced apart within said other of said element and frame, said bearing members having coaxial bores receiving said shaft journalled for rotation therein, said ring being disposed between said bearing members, facing surfaces thereof defining alternately abutting surfaces to said ring, the maximum play of said rotatable element being defined by the difference between the axial spacing of said bearing members and the thickness of said ring.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the said annular bearing members is a bushing carrying said rotatable element.

3. A small mechanical apparatus such as a movement of a timepiece or the like which includes a rotatable element and a stationary frame having coaxial bores, a shaft secured within the bore of one of said element and frame, bearing means secured within the bore of the other of said element and frame receiving said shaft journalled therein, said bearing means comprising a pair of coaxially arranged annular bearing members seated within the other of said element and frame and having means defining a journal for said shaft, said bearing members being axially spaced at fixed distance one relative to the other and a ring member tightly engaged on said shaft and coaxially interposed between said bearing members, the difference between the axial distance separating said bearing members and the thickness of the ring member defining a limited path of mmovement of said ring member within said bearing defining the maximum axial play between said element and said frame.

' ring is engaged in a forced fit relationship with said shaft.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said shaft is removable from said bearing members and interposed ring member with the axial spacing relationship between bearing members and ring member maintained.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bearing means is carried by said rotatable element.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bearing means is carried by said frame.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said frame is formed of a pair of spaced stationary frame elements, one of which carries the said bearing members and the other carries a coaxial sleeve, one extremity of which defines a bushing for receiving the shaft subsequent to its passage through said bearing members.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which said shaft passes freely through one of said bearing members.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said outwardly facing surfaces of the bearing members are flush with the opposite ends of the bore of the frame element carrying said bearing members.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the rotatable element is fixedly secured to said shaft and rotates therewith. 

1. In a movement of a timepiece or like small mechanical apparatus, in which there is a rotatable element and a frame stationary relative thereto one of said element and frame having a shaft rigidly secured thereto, the invention comprising means limiting the axial play of the rotatable element relative to the frame comprising a ring tightly engaged on the said shaft, at least a pair of annular bearing members seated spaced apart within said other of said element and frame, said bearing members having coaxial bores receiving said shaft journalled for rotation therein, said ring being disposed between said bearing members, facing sUrfaces thereof defining alternately abutting surfaces to said ring, the maximum play of said rotatable element being defined by the difference between the axial spacing of said bearing members and the thickness of said ring.
 2. The structure as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the said annular bearing members is a bushing carrying said rotatable element.
 3. A small mechanical apparatus such as a movement of a timepiece or the like which includes a rotatable element and a stationary frame having coaxial bores, a shaft secured within the bore of one of said element and frame, bearing means secured within the bore of the other of said element and frame receiving said shaft journalled therein, said bearing means comprising a pair of coaxially arranged annular bearing members seated within the other of said element and frame and having means defining a journal for said shaft, said bearing members being axially spaced a fixed distance one relative to the other and a ring member tightly engaged on said shaft and coaxially interposed between said bearing members, the difference between the axial distance separating said bearing members and the thickness of the ring member defining a limited path of mmovement of said ring member within said bearing defining the maximum axial play between said element and said frame.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said ring member is formed as a split ring secured to said shaft and movable therewith.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said ring is engaged in a forced fit relationship with said shaft.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said shaft is removable from said bearing members and interposed ring member with the axial spacing relationship between bearing members and ring member maintained.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bearing means is carried by said rotatable element.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bearing means is carried by said frame.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said frame is formed of a pair of spaced stationary frame elements, one of which carries the said bearing members and the other carries a coaxial sleeve, one extremity of which defines a bushing for receiving the shaft subsequent to its passage through said bearing members.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which said shaft passes freely through one of said bearing members.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said outwardly facing surfaces of the bearing members are flush with the opposite ends of the bore of the frame element carrying said bearing members.
 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the rotatable element is fixedly secured to said shaft and rotates therewith. 